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<br /> <br />The potential plant community is mainly Ponderosa pine and some pinyon \ • <br />and'Douglas-fir and an understory of Cambel oak, Arizona fescue, mountain <br />muhly, and true mountainmahogany. Many areas are dominated by Gambel oak <br />with an overstory of scattered pine. The potential production of the native <br />understory vegetation in normal years is about 200 pounds of air-dry. <br />vegetation per acre. <br />This unit is poorly suited to the production of Ponderosa pine. The site <br />index for Ponderosa pine is about 50, or low. The main concerns in producing <br />and harvesting timber are low available water capacity, steepness of slope <br />and shallow depth to bedrock. The use of tree spades for removal of <br />transplants is severely limited. <br />Minimizing the risk of erosion is essential in harvesting timber. Proper <br /> <br />design of road drainage systems and care in the placement of culverts help to / <br />control erosion. Spoil from excavations is subject to rill and gully erosion (\ • <br />and to sloughing. To stabilize grades, cuts and fills, and other disturbed <br />areas, roads, landings, and skid trails should be provided with water bars <br />and reseeded following harvest. Suitable seeding mixtures can include <br />sideoats grama, blue grama, and pubescent wheatgrass. To provide an adequate <br />seedbed, the surface should be chiseled or otherwise disturbed. Seeding late <br />in fall helps to ensure that soil moisture will be adequate for the <br />establishment of seedlings next spring. <br />The hazard of soil erosion is lessened on well designed roads and in <br />minimally disturbed areas. Removal of the cover of organic litter on the <br />surface should be minimized to maintain a high water intake rate, to reduce <br />runoff, and to maintain an adequate source of nutrients for trees. <br /> <br />